Starting device for motor-vehicles.



' qmHMe/weo:

R. F. WEBBER & G. W. SLATER.

STARTING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I9. 1910.

1,160,474. Patented N0v.16,1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

lflllliili R. F. WEBBER & G. W. SLATER.

STARTING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. mo.

1 9 1 10. 37%, Patented Nov. 16, 1915 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a/ww Q 7% W WQSZ R. F. WEBBER & G. W. SLATER.

STARTING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-19. 19I0.

nn'rrnn era rarnnr orrron Roman r. waste Aas stseslw. eamen, or iiasnineron, :orsrrnio'r or COLUMBIA, IASSIGNO'RS" ro an'roivrnrro g PPPLIANOES nn MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, or WILTIIINGTON, DELAWARE, aCDRPOEATION or DELA- WARE.

sTAnTINe DEVICE roe; rii'o'ronevnrironns.

icense.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16,191 5.

Application filed March 19, 1910. Serial no. 550518.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, ROLLIN. F; WEBBER andGnonen W. SLATER, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington,in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Starting Devicesfor Motor-Vehicles, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in devices adapted to facilitatethe starting of motors, and particularly gas engines of the compressiontype, and has for its primary object the provision ofsuch a deviceespe-,

cially designed for use in connection with motor vehicles and adapted tobe operated.

by the occupant of the vehicle, conveniently from the seat of thelatter. r

T he invention coniprehends manually op erable means for imparting tothe engineits initial forward impulse in combinationwith parts forbreaking the operative connection of said means with the engine duringthe normal actuation of the starter, and preferably other means forpositively breaking said operative connection and retaining thecooperating elements in disconnected relation upon a reversing orbackward move ment of the engine;

The invention also embraces starting mechanism including an operatinglever adapted to be drawnto'ward theoperator in the starting movementthereof,-but to be thrown away from the operator as an incident tobackward or reverse movement of the engine to prevent injury to theoperator.

The invention further embraces the 'pro-f vision of means forautomatically restoring the starting mechanism to its initial positionafter the completion of the startingqoperation, and preferably meansenabling a varied positioning of the operating lever to suit the whim ordesire of the occupant of the vehicle, while always maintaining theparts in operative relation. I

The invention still further includes a starting mechanism, connectinginStrum'en talities formedand arranged to increase the leverage or powerof the device through its starting operation, so that as the compressionin the cylinder increases, the leverage and power of the starting deviceis also being increased to correspond therewith;

Another feature of the invention resides panying drawings forming parthereof,; wherein a convenient embodiment of the invention isillustrated.

In the drawings, Figure 1; 1s a front elevation of the startingmechanism, the engine being shown in. dotted lines and the engine shaftand side frame portions of the vehicle in section, Fig. 2 is an enlargedview of a fragmentary portion of the starting mechanism illustrating themanner of disengaging the same from the engine shaft, Fig. 3 is afragmentary elevation of the lower portions of the operating lever andimmediately associated parts, Fig. i is an elevation similar to Fig.1showing the-position of the parts near the completion of vtheir startingmovement, the position illustrated in F ig. 1

being that assumed by the same parts at the commencement of saidstarting movement, Fig.5 is a plan view of Fig. 1, with parts brokenaway and others shown in section,

Fig. 6is an enlargedsectional view on the,

line 00-43 of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a detail elevation, Fig. 8 is asectional view showing the details of the spring trip for throwing thedog into and out of engagement with its ratchet to operatively engageand disengage gine shaft, and Fig. 9 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3 showinga modified construction.

Referring more specifically to the draw- 5 in'gs, wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views, Arepresents the side members of a vehicle frame, B the engine forpropelling the vehicle, and C the end of the engine cranlr shaft whichin turn reciprocatesthe piston, all as well known in the art and not"injecessary to illustrate in detail herein. It

may be observed, however, that a separate es the starting mechanismrelative to the en-;.

extension 6 of the shaft C is provided, the same being notched, squaredor otherwise formed for the reception of the ordinary hand crank, shouldoccasion arise, for the use of the latter. Keyed to the extension isanarm-D which carries a pivoted dog E adapted, as will hereinaftermorefully appear to engage the teeth of a ratchet F, on theshaft C. V

An elongated curved link G is pivoted at one end g to the outer end ofthe arm D, and at its other end it to connecting means,

constituting in effecta bell crank lever H rigid with 'a frame A. V I

The shaft 0 abovereferred to carries a beveled gear Z fixed to rotatetherewith, the

pivoted at i to a bracket 1 rigid with the frame A.

arm of said lever, is formedinto. a segment or sector J whlch 1s adaptedto be actuated by'suitable gearing. In the embodiment of i the inventiondisclosed in. the drawings, the segment J is toothed and isarran'ged toconstantly mesh with a complementary segment Kfkey ed to or formedintegral'with the shaft 73 rotatably mounted in bearings 70 gearin turnmeshing with a similar gear Z at right angles thereto,carried by andfixed to rotate with the main operating shaft L arranged transversely ofthe vehicle and rotatably mounted in bearings M on the frame. A stubshaft L rotatably mounted in the frame, connects through the medium ofan arm Z link Z and arm Z with the shaftL. In some instances, however,where the parts are arranged oncloser association, these arms and linkare dispensed with as illus-l trated in Fig. 9, for example.

A coil spring N coiled about the shaft L secured at n to the frame andat its opposite end'n to the shaft operated to restore and maintain theshaft and connected parts In anormally inactive position, it beingobserved that when the shaftis turned in its starting operation, thespring will be coiled or wound tightly'to store power in the same,-

i 'so that when the shaft is released, the un- Winding of the springwill throw the parts back to their initial position.

0 is the operating lever adapted to'be manually operatedby the occupantof the vehicle and to that end said lever is disposed near the righthand end of the vehicle seat and in front of the same- It willbe-understood, however, that as found desirable or conditions mayrequire, the positioning 'of this operating lever may be readilychanged.

The lever is sleeved upon the end of the shaft L, which protrudes fromthe adjacent side bar A of the frame, the connection between the leverand the shaft being accomplished through the medium of a sector P fixedto the shaft and a latch 0 on a lever adapted to engage one of a seriesof notched The opposite end of the bell" crank lever H, the same beingthe shorter portionsp in the curved peripheral portion of the segment.This arrangement enables the lever to occupy a substantially verticalposition,if desired, in engagement with the upper slotted portion inproximity to the usual other controllinglevers of the machine, and whendesired to manipulate the. starter, the lever will be thrown down toengage the lower slotted portion and drawn up:. wardly in the directionof the arrow, Fig. '3, "toward the seat; It should be here noticed thatthe operating movement of the hand lever being toward the :body,which,-j of course, is'that movement which imparts the initial forwardimpulse to the engine. Should the engine reverse the lever will' bethrown awayfrom the body, preventing injury to the occupant, and alsoowingto fea tures of'the construction'now to be pointed out, preventinginjury to themechanism.

In Fig.1, wherein the parts are illustrated in their inactive position,it will be seen that the dog Eels disengaged from the ratchetF; To throwthe same intogactive I position, the tail of the dogis provided with ora laterally projectingpin Q arranged in-- the path of movement of aspringR- fixed to i 7 move with the linkG and occupying a per-- manentrelation to said link. The spring is secured in place by inserting thesame with-- in a slotted portlon' r of the bolt head r, a

headed screw r overlying: the edge of the spring and bearing thereon.The movement of the link G and arm D in an upward directioncauses thespring R to engage the pin Q on the dog and rock the same intoengagement with the ratchet F, an adjustable friction plug S passingthrough the arm D and I mentioned spring is arranged laterally be-- yondthe path-of movement of the spring R whereby not to obstruct the same.It will also be understood that as the enginestarts' andruns ahead ofthe actuating means, the

dog is by that movement shifted out of 'engagement with and beyond thepath of the teeth of the ratchet. g r I Auxiliary means are provided forpositively engaging the tail of the dog E in the reverse movement of thestarter and for holding the dog out of engagement with its" ratchet, thesame comprising a cam or enlargement U projecting from the under surfaceof the curved link G, said cam in the forward or starting operation ofthe device followed: Assuming that for the sake of convenience, theoperating lever 0' is in approximately vertical position, as indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the other parts in inactive position, asillustrated in Fig. 1, the occupants of the vehicle upon desiring tostart the motor will simply disengage the lever from the upper notchedportion of the segment and swing it forwardly into engagement with thelower notched portion. Tlhen an elevating" and backward pull on thelever rotates the plate P and therethrough the shaft L in the directionof the arrows Fig. 3*, which inturn winds up the restoring spring N andturns the gear Z on This gear transmitthe end of the shaft. ting itsmotion to the shaft throughthe gear Z swings the toothed segment K'downwardly, Fig. 1, correspondingly moving the bell crank lever H tocarry the link and arm D upwardly to the position of Fig. l,

this movement causing the trip spring R operating against and ridingover the pin Q of the dog E to throw the dog into engagement with theratchet F at the commencement of said movement. This operation, as willbe obvious, turns the ciink shaft of the engine and compresses thecharge in the cylinder, an important feature of the operation being thatas the compression becomes greater, so the leverage and power of thecompressing action of the device increased, by reason of our specialarrangement of links and levers. It is noted that at the end of thestarting or compressing movement of the device, the long arm of thelever H and the arm D, are arranged in an upwardly diverging relation,thus enabling the utiliza tion of a long link Upon the operatorreleasing his hold upon the handle 0', or upon disengaging the latch 0of the lever from the coupling plate P, the shaft L is rotated in areverse direction under the unwinding action of the spring 9, and theother parts of the device correspondingly restoredto the initialposition, as shown in Fig. l, a stop V on the frame A being arranged tobe engaged by the plate P at the end of said return movement. In this return or reverse movement, the spring R engages the opposite side of thepin Q of the dog and throws the same out from engagement with theratchet F, the dog being frictionally retarded by the plug S and heldagainst excessive movement bythe back spring T, and the actuation of thedog in this manner is all that would ordinarily be tio'nal safe-guardand to provide a positive dog actuating means, as distinguished from therelatively impositive character of a spring, the cam U on the link G isemployed to engage and hold the dog out of engagement with the ratchetF. This positively insures an instant disengagement at all times of thestarting mechanism from the ratchet wheel on the engine shaft, save intheforward starting impulse of the engine, and thus any reversing orbackward tend ency or movement of the engine itself auto maticallyreleases the parts, so that the operating lever while it may be thrownforwardly out of the hand of the operator cannot be influenced by saidreversing or backward action of the engine, either to injure the personor impair the operating parts.

While we have herein disclosed one em bodiment of the invention, it isto be understood that the invention is capable of being embodied inother forms and devices, as will appear to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. The combination with a motor, of a starting device thereforcomprising means including a releasable device for imparting a forwardimpulse to the motor, an operating lever, and means independent of saidfirst mentioned releasing means for adjusting the lever to variouspositions relative to the p'artsto be operated thereby.

2. The combination with a motor, of a starting device thereforcomprising means including a releasable device for imparting a forwardimpulse to the motor, a hand lever arranged to turn toward the operatorin its acting movement but to recede from the operator in the reversemovement, and means independent of said first mentioned releasing meansfor adjusting the lever to various positions relative to the parts to beoperated thereby.

3. The combination with a motor, of a starting device thereforcomprising means including a releasable device for imparting a forwardimpulse to the motor, an op rating lever, means independent of saidfirst mentioned releasing means for. adjusting the lever to variouspositions relative to the parts to be operated thereby, and means forrestoring the impulse creating means to normal position after actuationby the lever when the lever is free.

4. A starting device of the character described comprising a lever,operating parts associated therewith, a coupling member between saidlever and operating parts per- Initting the lever to occupy variouspositions while preserving the same operating connection, said meansincluding a notched plate rigid with the operating parts, and means onthe lever adapted to engage any of said notched portions to give thedesired normal desired. However, to constitute an addiposition of thelever.

5. A starting device for motors comprising an arm operatively.associated with the motor shaft, an operating lever p voted at one sideof said shaft and in substantially the horizontal planeof the shaft, apivoted link connection between said lever and arm, and "means foractuating said operating lever v6. A starting device for motorscomprising an arm operatively associated with the motor shaft, anoperating lever pivoted at,

oneside of the motor, shaft, and a pivoted elongated curved linkconnect1on between said lever and arm, said armand lever occupyingadiverging relation to each other to accommodate said link/ 7. Astartingdevice for motors comprising an arm operatively associated with themotor shaft, an operating lever, a pivoted link connection between saidlever and arm. a pawl and. ratchet connection between the arm andmotorshaft, and meansfor positively engaging the pawl to throw the sameinto and out of engagement with the ratchet when the operating lever isshifted. 1

.8. A starting device formotors compris ing an arm operativelyassociated with the motor shaft,; an operating lever, a pivoted linkconnection between said lever and arm,

a pawl and ratchet connection between the arm and motor shaft, and meansfor throwing the pawl into. and' ont of engagement with the ratchet, andother means positively holding the pawl in its disengaged position upona reverse movement of the shaft 9. The combination with a motor, ofmeansfor starting the same comprising an arm operatively associated withthe motor shaft, a bell crank lever, one arm of which constitutes atoothed segment, alink connection between the other arm of said leverand said first mentioned arm, a complementar T se ment en agin the leverand means a o b, 7

for operating the segment in the forward direction. a

10. The combination with a motor, of means for starting'the samecomprisin'g an arm operatively associated with the motor shaft, abell'crank lever, one arm of which constitutes a'toothed segment, a linkconneotion between the other arm of said lever and saidfirst mentionedarm, a complementary segment engaging the lever, and means for operatingthe segment in both a forward and reverse direction.

11. The combination with a motor, of

'means for starting'the same comprising an arm operativelyassociatedwith the motor shaft, a bell crank lever, one arm of which constitutes atoothed segment, a link con nection between the other arm of'said leverand said first mentionedarm, a complemen tary segment engaging thelever, meansfor 0 aeratin the se ment in the forward clireotion, a pawland ratchet coupling between the first mentioned arm and the engineshaft, and means for releasing the pawl from the ratchet in the returnmovement of the a parts. V

12, The combination with a motor, of means for starting the samecomprising an arm operatively associated with the motor shaft, a bellcrank lever, one arm of which constitutes a toothed segment, a linkconnection between'the other arm'of said lever and said first mentionedarm, a complementary segment engaging the lever, means for 7 operatingthe segment in both a forward and nection between the other arm of saidlever,

and said first mentioned arm, a complementary segmentengagmg the lever,means for operating the segment. in the forward direction, a pawl andratchet coupling between the first HIQIltIODBd arm and the engine shaft,means for releasing the pawl from the ratchet, in the return movement ofthe parts, 7

and. means forpositivelyholding the pawl in itsdisengaged position. V

ltThe combination with a motor, of means for starting the samecomprising an arm operatively associated with the motor shaft, a bellcrank lever,'one arm of which constitutes a toothed segment,a linkconnection between the other arm of said lever and said first mentionedarm, a complementary segment engaging the lever, means .for

operating the segment in both a forward and reverse direction, a pawland ratchet coupling between the first mentioned arm andithe engineshaft, means for releasing the pawl'from the ratchet in the returnmovement of the parts, and means for posi-Y tively holding the pawl inits disengaged i position.

15. A starting device for motors, including a pawl and ratchet, an armcarrying. the

pawl, means connected with said arm for operating the same includingarmovable part pivotally connected thereto, means on said movable partfor positively engaging the pawl to disengage it from its ratchet, and'aback spring limiting the disengaging movement of said pawl. '7 u 16. Astarting device formotor-s, including a pawl and ratchet, an armcarrying the pawl, means connected with said arm for operating the sameincluding a movable part pivotally connected thereto, means on saidmovable part for positively engaging the V pawl to disengage it from itsratchet, a back spring limiting the disengaging movement of said pawl,and-a frictional retarding device preventing too free movement of thepawl.

17. The combination with a motor; of means for starting the" sameincluding a pawl and ratchet coupling between the actuating parts andthe motor shaft, means for automatically shifting the pawl, a 3 backspring limiting the disengaging movement of the pawl, and'a frictionalretarding device preventing too free movement of the pawl.

18. A starting device for motors including a pawl and ratchet, an armcarrying the pawl, means connected with said arm for operating thesame'including a movable part pivotally connected thereto, and means onsaid movable part for throwing the pawl into engagement with the ratchetin the forward movement of the device'and to disengage the pawl in thereverse movement of the device. I

19. A starting device for motors including a pawl and ratchet, an armcarrying the pawl, means connected with said arm for operating the sameincluding a movable part, and means on said movable'part for throwingthe pawl into engagement'with the ratchet in the forwardmovementofthedevice and to disengage'the pawl'in the reverse movement of thedevice, comprising'a spring and a projection on thepawl in'the'path ofmovement of the spring.

20. A starting device for motors lncluding a pawl and ratchet, an armcarrying the pawl, and means connected with said arm for operating thesame including'a movable part pivoted to'thearmyandmeans on said movablepart for engaging thepaa-l, and positively holding the same out ofengagement with the ratchet in the reverse movement of the device.

21. A starting device for motors including a pawl and ratchet, an armcarrying the pawl, means connected with said arm for operating the sameincluding a movable part pivoted to the arm, and means on said movablepart for engaging the pawl, and positively holding the same out ofengagement with the ratchet in the reverse movement of the device, saidmeans comprising a cam or projection arranged to ride against the tailof the pawl.

22. A starting device for motorsincluding a pawl and ratchet, an armcarrying the pawl, means connected with said arm-for operating the sameincluding a movable part pivoted to the arm, means on said movable partfor engaging the pawl, and positively holding the same out of engagementwith the ratchet in the reverse movement ofthe device, and a spring alsomovable with said movable part adapted to engage the pawl to shift thesame.

23. A starting device for motors including a pawl and ratchet, an armcarrying the a pawl and ratchet, an arm carrying the pawl, meansconnected with said arm for operating'the same including a movable partpivoted to the arm, means on said movable part for engaging the pawl,and positively holding the same out of engagement with the ratchet inthe reverse movement of the device, and a spring also movable withsaidmovable part adapted to engage the pawl' to shift the same both into andout of engagement with the ratchet.

A starting device for'motors' including a pawl and ratcl'iet, anarmcarrying the pawl, means connected with said arm for operating thesame including a movable part pivoted to the arm, means on saidmovablepart for engaging the pawl, and positively holding the same out ofengagement with the ratchet in the reverse'movement of the device, saidmeans'comprising a cam or p'rojection arranged to ride against the tailof the pawl, and a spring also movablewith said movable part adapted toengage the pawl toshift' the same both into and outenga-gement with theratchet.

26. A starting device for motors including'ia pawl andratchet, an armcarrying the pawl, means connected with said arm for operating the sameincluding a movable part pivoted to the arm, means on said movable partfor engaging the pawl, and positively holding the same out of engagementwith the ratchet in the reverse movement of the device, and a springalso movable with the said movable part adapted to engage the pawl toshift the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet in the reversemovement of the device and in advance of the engagement of the cam withthe pawl.

27. A starting'device for motors including a pawl and ratchet, an armcarrying the pawl, means connected with said arm for operating the sameincluding a movable part pivoted to the arm, means on said movable partfor engaging the pawl, and positively holding the same out of engagementwith the ratchet in the reverse movement of the device, said meanscomprising a cam or projection arranged to ride against the tail of thepawl, and a spring also movable with said movable part adapted to engagethe pawl to shift the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet in thereverse movement of g the device and in advance of the engagement of thecam with the pawl. 7 V 28. The combination with a motor, of

means for starting the same including a pawl and ratchetconncctionoperatively associated with the'engine shaft, an arm carfryingsaid pawl, means for operating the arm including a part movablyconnected.

therewith, and a spring s'hiftable with'said part operating in theforward movement of the device to engage the pawl with the ratchet andin the reverse movement of the device to disengage the pawl from theratchet. 1

29. The combination with a motor, of

means for starting the sameincluding a pawl and ratchet connectionoperatively associated with the engine shaft, an arm carrying said pawl,means for operating the arm includ ng a part movably connected"therewith, a spring shiftable with said part means for retarding theswinging movement of the pawl.

30. The combination with a motor, of means for starting the sameincluding a pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated with theengine shaft, an arm carrying said pawl, means for operating thearmineluding a partmovably connected therewith,

a spring shiftable with said part operating in the forward movement ofthe device to engage the pawl" with the ratchet and in the reversemovement of the device to disengage between one arm of said bell cranklever and said first mentloned arm, and means for shifting the other armof said bell crank lever. i

32. The combination with a motor, of

means for starting the same comprising an arm operatively associatedwith the shaft of the motor, a bell crank lever one arm of whichconstitutes'a segment, a link connectionbetween the other arm of thebell crank lever and said first mentioned arm, and means for engagingsaid segment to shift said bell crank lever.

33. A starting device for motors comprising an arm operativelyassociated with the motor shaft, a lever, a link connecting said. leverand arm, a pawl carriedby the arm and adapted to engage said ratchetwheel when the lever is moved in one direction, said link being providedwith a portion adapted to directly engage said pawl and disengage itfrom the ratchet when the lever is shifted in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

ROLLIN F. WEBBER. GEO. W. SLATER. Witnesses:

GRACE A. MARVIN, JAs. E. HUTCHINSON.

Copies'of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of ZEatents,

Washington, 13.0.

